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Visions of Romance The rich, luxurious gowns that brides will fall in love with in 2013

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Marva Pearson 218-855-5824 Email: marva.pearson @brainerddispatch.com page 2 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

Weddings North • 2013

2013 Gowns: Visions of Romance

Brides feel good these days. And with a positive outlook comes a desire for rich, luxurious gowns that will make fashionable statements at their weddings. From lace to layers to fun pops of colors, these are the gowns brides want to wear in 2013

Ombre Style

Cover photo courtesy of Kelli Engstrom Photography

A color scheme that takes you from light to dark is one of the hottest right- now trends in bridal

Insta-Glam

Smartphone apps like Instagram add instant charm and radiance to photos with chic filters and effects – just like the tricks photographers employ to make wedding photos pop

Pin My Wedding!

Your wedding photos are unique and stylish, and they deserve to be seen the world over. With Facebook and Pinterest, your favorite wedding blogs and even national magazines, there have never been more options for putting the spotlight on all the details that went into making your special day

Town or Country?

1 wedding, 2 options. A big city celebration has modern conveniences, while a country setting offers its own ‘rustic chic’ charm. Here’s how to make your choice

PLUS:

The Pre-Wedding Cocktail Hour Think Pink!

Something Blue for Grooms Meet the Millennials High Fashion, Fine Jewelry page 3 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

gOWnS

the rOmantic lOOkS brideS Want tO Wear in 2013

inSta-glam

creatiVe effectS tO make yOUr Wedding PhOtOS POP

Ombre Style

light-tO-dark cOlOr iS the hOt trend Of the mOment

Pin My Wedding!

How to showcase your stylish event online and beyond

page 4 | WeDDINgS NORTH 2013

he t

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Party Plan

The Pre-Wedding

Cocktail Hour

If you want your guests to have a memorable time from the moment they arrive, consider following the lead of more and more modern couples who are opting to get the party started pre-ceremony.

To set the right tone, Brides magazine Senior Editor Yolanda Crous recommends creating a special playlist or hiring an instrumentalist (think guitarist or jazz trio) to play classical versions of your favorite tunes.

Give guests something to look at like a slideshow or elaborate wedding program. Crous suggests including your love story, mini bios of your attendants, and background on your readings.

If you’re location is unique – museum, art gallery, zoo – Crous also advises arranging for mini tours. Added bonus: These prewedding activities are a fun conversation starter for guests who don’t know each other.

Photo booths, the guest book and lawn games are good preceremony activities, too.

It’s also nice to offer a little refreshment. Karine FranceMatsumoto, owner of Honolulubased Seasons of Life Events, recommends having servers page 6 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

pass signature cocktails and booze-free mocktails, and setting up a self-service beverage station with minted water and fruit tea. No need to go overboard on the food, but this is a perfect time for featuring regional bite-sized appetizers or the couple’s favorite snacks, France-Matsumoto says.

In addition, think about the weather. If it’s hot, France-Matsumoto suggests handing out chilled hand-towels, and Crous recommends providing paper fans, sunscreen and bug spray.

If it’s cold, Crous says having space heaters and baskets of blankets or pashminas is smart.

Most importantly, you, the couple, should feel free to join in! The pre-ceremony party will give you even more time to chat with old friends or relatives who traveled from afar, notes FranceMatsumoto, and connecting in a casual way can help calm jitters about being the center of attention. But it’s probably best if the newlyweds-to-be avoid the alcohol, Crous says:“You don’t want to slur your vows.”

–Anna Sachse © CTW Features

Think Pink!

When Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake tied the knot Oct. 19, 2012, in southern Italy, Biel was the latest celebrity bride to choose pink for her big day.

Biel’s custom Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown featured a light pink floral motif and a tiered skirt of silk mousseline and silk organza for a ball gown effect.

Biel’s rosy selection puts her in the recent company of Anne Hathaway, who’s Valentino gown for her September 2012 wedding featured pink hand-painted details, and Reese Witherspoon, who opted Watters Isaac Mizrahi for Kleinfeld for a blush-hued Monique Lhuillier number for her 2011 nuptials. You don’t have to be a celeb to think pink on your wedding day, however, as designers are responding to the trend by putting pink looks on the runway.

Vera Wang White

© CTW Features

Grooms

Something Blue ... For Him Tradition does not mandate somethings borrowed, old or new for your groom, but a blue embellishment will lend playful elegance to his attire.

Here, Patricia Trépanier, a men’s fashion stylist and image consultant based in Toronto and Montreal, offers a few chic selections

Cufflinks There are countless options, featuring everything from precious gems to sports logos or plaid. If he’s fashion-forward but not very flashy, Trépanier recommends Tateossian Scoubidou’s blueand-white braided Italian leather cufflinks which wrap around the edge of his shirt cuff.

Tateossian.com, $165

Socks Since only a few inches of his socks will show when he’s sitting down, socks are a great way bring in blue without overpowering the groom’s look.

Trépanier likes Happy Socks’ striped socks mix stripes of dark and light blues.

HappySocks.com, $12

Shoelaces Colorful shoelaces are trending this style season, says Trépanier. These shiny brightblue laces from Stolen Riches look good in both black and brown shoes.

StolenRiches.com, $17.50 –Anna Sachse © CTW Features

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Meet the Millennials When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg married his longtime love Priscilla Chan on May 19, 2012, the event definitely was on the modest side, considering just two days prior Facebook’s IPO officially made Zuck a billionaire – with a B. The pair hosted about 100 guests in a private backyard ceremony at their Palo Alto, Calif., home.

(Sure, it’s a $6 million home, but still, backyard wedding!) Food was catered by the pair’s two favorite local restaurants; dessert was the same chocolate truffles the couple shared on the first date Zuckerberg traded in the hoodie for a dark blue suit and casually worn tie; Chan donned

page 8 | WeDDINgS NORTH 2013

a lacy Claire Pettibone gown she stealthily ordered from a Denver boutique.

To be sure, the high-profile couple required a bit of subterfuge to pull of the event; guests thought they were there to celebrate Chan’s medical school graduation. But it reveals a look at how the next generation of bride and grooms are getting married — with an emphasis on the simple, meaningful and affordable.

It’s not surprising, considering the 20-to-24 and 25-to-34 sets have fared the worst when it comes to unemployment figures. According to Pew Research Center data, half (49 percent) of 18- to 34-year-olds

have taken a job they didn’t want to help pay the bills, a quarter (24 percent) have moved back in with their folks and 20 percent have postponed getting married. (FYI: The U.S. Census Bureau denotes “millennials” as anyone born between 1981 and 2000.)

No matter where you look, the average cost of a wedding has is somewhere around $25,000.

Not cheap, and given the past few years, not always feasible. But if a billionaire can showcase how to keep a wedding simple, make no mistake, a generation of

facebook/allyson magda Photography

A new generation couple is changing the way modern weddings are taking place

young couples will find a way to follow suit. © CTW Features

High Fashion, Fine Jewelry When you hear the names Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang, the first thing that pops in your mind probably isn’t don’t think engagement and wedding rings. But fine jewelry is the latest addition the two iconic bridal-gown designers’ wedding worlds.

Lhuillier recently collaborated with online jeweler Blue Nile on a collection of platinum-and-diamond engagement and wedding bands. Ranging in price from $1,800 to $5,000, the collection is broken down into four styles: • Romantic, featuring interlacing bands of pavé-set diamonds • Modernity, featuring center stones framed by micropavé diamonds for a fine-lined, modern aesthetic • Antiquity, which features richly

detailed settings reminiscent of Lhuillier’s bridal designs • Tradition, simple but elegant interpretations of timeless profiles Vera Wang LOVE, the designer’s exclusive jewelry collection with Zales, launched in the fall of 2011 with engagement and wedding rings and in 2012 introduced a new 31 new under$6,000 pieces, includes pendants, earrings and groom’s rings.

Both lines feature signature stones inset into the pieces. Lhuillier’s pieces feature a pink sapphire, representing the designer’s trademark accent color and symbolizing a blushing bride; Wang’s LOVE pieces feature inset blue sapphires.

Blue Nile

Facebook/Allyson Magda Photography

Gown designers Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang put their wedding style into the bling business

© CTW Features

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A color scheme that takes you from light to dark is one of the hottest right-now trends in bridal

By Taniesha Robinson CTW Features Navy blue and silver.

Fuchsia and gray.

Black and gold.

They’re the color combinations that have set the tone for countless wedding ceremonies.

But trendy brides are leaving the old color combos behind for another effect: ombré, the gradual change of color shades from light to dark. It’s become one of the most popular design elements of weddings today, making a mark not only in ceremony décor but fashion and beauty trends, too.

Ombré, a French word meaning “shaded,” has long been a technique for home décor and interior design. It was only a matter of time before it made

its way down the aisle.

And, brides can integrate the stunning effect in their weddings whether they’re using the talents of a professional wedding planner or taking the do-it-yourself approach.

“The whole idea of ombré is to be very subtle with it,” says Candice Coppola, owner and creative director of Jubilee Events, based in Chesire, Conn. Coppola warns against the temptation to use the effect everywhere. “You need to pick and choose what’s going to make the most sense,” she says. “[Ombré can] be a tribute to what your natural style is.”

The key element in a subtle ombré design is the gentleness of the gradation. When done right, the color seems to float into the space with a very natu-

page 10 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

ral progression. Here are some popular ways the effect has been trending on the wedding scene.

areas” (linens and paper in the table settings) all featured gradation as accents to the overall color scheme.

Decoration

Cake

Last year, Coppola infused the popular scale of pale pink to deep red into a stunning wedding design. Floral arrangements, including the bouquets and petals that aligned the center aisle, featured the effect.

The bridesmaid dresses, the centerpieces at the reception, and what Coppola described as “unexpected

“One of the most popular cakes we have done in ombré is the ombré ruffled cake,” says Amy Beck, a professional Chicago-based cake designer.

Each shade blends almost seamlessly into the next in her cake designs, and the ruffled effect adds sheer elegance.

“I happen to think that they look better when they’re taller,” Beck says. This is because the gradation can be smoothed out

Amy Beck Cake Design/Adam Novak Photography

OMBRE OMBRE OMBRE OMBRE OMBRE OMBRE

Amy Beck Cake Design/Adam Novak Photography

Beauty Ombréd hair took off in Hollywood a few years ago, draping down the shoulders of stars such as actress Drew Barrymore. But the effect has been around for ages because hair strands naturally become lighter at the ends with sun exposure.

Today’s techniques create more dramatic effects for a perfect touch of glamour for wedding ’dos.“Because of the ombré, you’ll see the texture better in your updo and even your typical style versus if it was just one solid dark color,” says Holly Kasprisin, hair stylist and makeup

artist at Chicago Bridal Hair and Makeup. “It would be flat, and you wouldn’t see the definition or texture as much as you do with ombré.” There’s one caveat for women who covet the trend: it’s better for people with solid, dark hair.

Kasprisin also has seen the ombré trend grow in popularity for nail designs. Shading techniques have long been used in eye makeup.

Fashion The ombré trend in wedding gowns heated up this fall.

Actress Anne Hathaway married in a custom Valentino gown with pink ombré accents. At the 2012 New York Bridal Fashion week, designer Anne Barge showcased an ombréd wedding gown from her fall 2013 collection. “It was subtle but very obvious,” says Coppola, who was in attendance.

“The bottom of the dress was of a darker shade and it got lighter and lighter as it went up to the top ... It was a really subtle and beautiful way to incorporate the trend while still being bridal and classic and beautiful.”

For brides who can’t dream of donning anything other than an all-white dress, ombréd accessories (jewelry, shoes, etc.) make perfect accents. Also, a popular trend for bridesmaids’ dresses is to have each be a unique shade of your wedding color rather than the same color and style of dress. © CTW Features

Anne Barge

iStockphoto

over more than a dozen shades, giving the eye more to pick up on.

Beck says the ombréd cake has become so popular in recent years because it’s a way of bringing in color, letting the color stand out but not overwhelm the cake, especially for dark colors.

Alencon lace peral to blush ombré trumpet gown with Sabrina neckline and separate silk charmeuse slip from Anne Barge

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Wedding Budget Worksheet ESTIMATE

DESCRIPTION RECEPTION

ACTUAL

DESCRIPTION STATIONERY

COST

Facility

Announcements

Food

Wedding Invitations

Beverages

Programs

Cake

Thank You’s

Entertainment

Stamps

PHOTOGRAPHER

Decorations

RINGS

COST

VIDEOGRAPHER COST

GIFTS

COST COST

Gifts for Attendants

Tuxedos

Wedding Favors

Headpiece/Veil

Gifts for Parents

Accessories

Gifts for Each Other

Alterations

TRANSPORTATION

COST

COST

To Ceremony

Ceremony/Reception

To Reception

Bouquets

Guest Transportation

Boutonnieres

MISC.

COST

COST

Marriage License

Church/Location

Taxes

Clergy/Judge

Tips

Musicians

HONEYMOON

Decorations/Rentals

REHEARSAL DINNER

COST

Other

Bridal Dress

CEREMONY

COST

Other

Groom’s Wedding Ring

FLOWERS

ACTUAL

Albums

Bride’s Wedding Ring

WEDDING ATTIRE

ESTIMATE

COST

Honeymoon Trip

COST

Wedding Night Accomodations

Location

Splurge Money

Other

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page 12 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013 Weddings North • Fall 2006 • Page 10

Ivy Chapel

Ivory lace and silk organza gown with V-neckline, delicate embroidery and hand beading on bodice, slim A-line skirt and cathedral train from Watters

Visions of Romance

By Nola Sarkisian-Miller CTW Features

Brides feel good these days. And with a positive outlook comes a desire for rich, luxurious gowns that will make fashionable statements at their weddings. From lace to layers to fun pops of colors, these are the gowns brides want to wear in 2013

f

or the most romantic day of their lives, brides want to look as romantically alluring as possible.

Visions of lace cascading down their dresses, fabrics layered for movement and shape and pops of color conveying a sunny mood are some of the key trends emanating from the 2013 runways that can help achieve that fashionable dream.

Along with feeling good about their impending marriages, brides-to-be are in a more bullish mood and willing to spend a bit more on higher-end styles that include laces imported from Europe.

“A more positive outlook on the economy is driving the desire for richness and luxuriousness,” says Andrea Novella, sales and marketing manager for New Yorkbased Anne Bowen. High-quality fabrics such as lace, silk and crepe “are preferred because although they are pricier, they add a richness and finish that makes the gown look much more expensive than it is.”

page 13 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

Floral lace over taffeta gown with corset bodice, fit-toflare skirt and chapel train from Modern Trousseau, right Silk white and gold embroidered tulle illusion cap sleeve gown with natural waist, soft A-line skirt and 4-inch embroidered bow belt from Monique Lhuillier, below

Bridal salons from the West Coast to the East Coast report that lace gowns are key sellers with customers, whether it’s more modest fitted looks at Esti’s in Brooklyn, N.Y., or showier styles at M Bride in La Jolla, Calif. Designers are creating lace works for the 21st century that are more modern and more envelope-pushing by incorporating lace in sleeves, on illusion necklines, on portrait backs, on belts and with embellishments of beading.

Lace abounds in the portrait backs of Lela Rose’s collection and plays a central role in Monique Lhuillier’s spring line.

There are Chantilly lace bow belts on corset gowns with drop waists, Chantilly lace sheaths

and re-embroidered lace illusion necklines and ball gowns.

Guipure lace gowns mixed with satin-faced organza in glamorous slim, column shapes are popular Kevan Hall White Label styles.

Anne Bowen is incorporating beading into lace gowns, such as a beaded Chantilly lace dress or a white beaded lace trumpet gown.Another forward style is by Modern Trousseau, based in Connecticut, which offers a pinstripe silk taffeta gown with a lace overlay.

The key for brides to remember is that a little lace goes a long way.

“Brides have to be careful,” says Michele Martin, owner of M Bride.“If they wear allover lace, the dress can wear them. But, lace mixed with tulle or English net looks more whimsical, more ethereal and more flattering.”

How brides wear it also makes a difference. For instance, when picking out a dreamy lace dress, don’t ruin the confection

page 14 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

with a sash, say bridal experts.

“Sashes can downgrade the dress, dumb it down,” Martin says.

“It looks more prommy and not as sophisticated.

Novella agrees that “sashes have given way to beaded belts, especially those incorporated into gowns.”

Lace-bow belts were a huge staple at Monique Lhuillier, accented with two-inch to four-inch bows. Watters partnered with Thomas Knoell Designs to create a line of accessories, including belts with rhodium-plated metals, for an opulent, vintage feel for its collection of Miamiinspired dresses.

To keep the lace in check, lace has been pairing up with other fabrics for a match made in heaven whether it’s for an accent or a layering piece.

‘Subtle and unexpected’: Designer Jennifer Williams of Alvina Valenta mixed lace and tulle for a soft, feminine feel in this V-neck gown with shoulder straps

Lace portrait back on the ‘Tompkins Square’ gown from Lela Rose, right

Ivory Chantilly lace illusion cap sleeve sheath with embroidered tulle overlay, low back and godet skirt

Jessica Williams, the designer of Alvina Valenta, wanted to create looks that featured “subtle and unexpected dimensions” for the spring season. Her gowns include a V-neck style with shoulder straps mixing lace and tulle for a soft, feminine feel.

Kevan Hall’s bridal dresses that are receiving positive reactions include a strapless style accented with a front bow along with gowns layered with classic tulle and touches of re-embroidered lace in a move away from heavier gowns.

“Dresses that are soft

and light and airy are what’s in,” Hall says.

“Brides want fabrics that are more sensuous and lightweight.”

M i x i n g clean lines with Art Deco details, Watters is using washed silk organza mixed with tulle for soft, flowing looks in drop-waist and modified A-line silhouettes, says Maria Prince, vice president of the Dallasbased bridal line.

“We’re using yards and

yards of fabric for draping and billowing for a very ladylike look,” Prince says.“We’re layering and layering without the weight of big satin.”

There’s also no shortage of color on the runways. But, brides

page 15 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

Whisper pink tulle and silk taffeta gown with V-neckline, silk taffeta-covered buttons and tulle skirt with silk taffeta and hand-beaded design details and chapel train from Watters

are opting for subtle color to make a big statement. Many designers are keeping the shades understated, such as at Anne Bowen, which offers a gown made of ivory lace with a blush under-layer.

“Brides are keeping color soft so it looks like a wedding gown, but has an edge,” says Callie Tein, designer for Modern Trousseau.

“They don’t want their gowns to look like an evening dress.When do you ever get to wear an allwhite dress? You can always wear a red dress or a green dress.”

Nova, a Cinderella-blue satin dress, and Eden, a Chantilly lace sheath re-embroidered with chiffon are bridal favorites at Modern Trousseau. Monique Lhuillier created some blush drama with her figure-hugging Chantilly lace corset gown and Spanish tulle draped trumpet gown with a full page 16 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

skirt.Watters’ pink dress with cut pieces of taffeta shimmering with embroidered metallics streaming down the skirt is a showpiece.

Geography, however, often plays a role in how much brides are willing to deviate from the conventions of color or lack thereof.

“Tradition dies very hard here,” says Gail Hester, a bridal consultant at the Mimi boutique in New Orleans.“We had one girl who wore black this weekend, and she looked stunning. She has red hair and blue eyes. But there aren’t many girls who have the confidence to pull that off or that have parents that will let them.” © CTW Features

Real

Couples Matt and Cayanne Ruis

Ages: Matt, 25, and Cayanne, 20 Together: 2 ½ years Married: 1 year

It’s time again to feature another great lakes area couple.

Meet Matt and Cayanne Ruis.

They dish out all of the details on how they met, how he proposed, memorable wedding moments, future plans and more!

Occupations:

Matthew works as a financial advisor for Edward Jones and Cayanne works as a teller at Deerwood Bank in Brainerd.

Hobbies and guilty pleasures: Cayanne says that Matt would golf all day, every day if he could. Matt also likes to go to the gym and play any sport that he can (including video games). Cayanne likes to golf also (because Matt taught her) and play volleyball. Sports are a big thing that they both have in common and enjoy doing together. Cayanne also loves to cook and bake. Matt’s guilty pleasure is video games — Call of Duty to be exact — and of course, golf. Cayanne’s guilty pleasure is anything that involves clothes and shoes and the occasional bag of Cheetos and Dove chocolate bar.

How the couple ended up together: A mutual friend of theirs introduced them while playing sand volleyball.They went on their first date when Cayanne was only 18 and Cayanne ended up getting grounded because of the fact that Matt was five years older and she hadn’t told her parents. So for two weeks, if Matt wanted to see Cayanne, he had to go to her house.

In that time he spent a lot of time with her parents and they fell in love with him just like Cayanne did.

The Proposal: Matt picked Cayanne up on her birthday and wanted to take her out. She got all dressed up because it was her birthday

and was surprised when he showed up all spiffy also. He took her to the movie “Bridesmaids” (which he claims was her first clue) and then when it was over, they headed to dinner.At the intersection of 371 and Woida Road, the stoplight turned red, Matthew turned to Cayanne and pointed to the Deerwood Bank billboard and in flashing lights were the words “Cayanne A. Robben, will you marry me?” Cayanne became overwhelmed with excitement and honestly did not believe that it was happening. Matt reached over to open the glove compartment and sitting open was an engagement ring for Cayanne! She looked at him and answered yes! Matt then took the ring, and placed it on her finger, and the rest is history!

Details of the big day: Matt and Cayanne were married December 17, 2011, at First Baptist Church in Baxter.The wedding ceremony and reception were both held there.

Most memorable moment: Unfortunately Cayanne has the negative memory of getting the flu on her wedding day. However, the couple says their best memory from their wedding day was the pictures they took before the ceremony.

Cayanne says it was great to have each of their families there, taking photos with them and being able to spend time with them before the chaos began. page 17 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

The most fun with planning the wedding: Matt would say he didn’t really do much of the planning, so for Cayanne the best part of the planning process was being able to spend a lot of time with her mom and to have her help throughout the entire process. Cayanne says her mom took a lot of the stress off of her and that she may have fallen apart if it weren’t for her mom.

Most difficult thing about planning their wedding day: Because Matt was offered a new job in St. Louis after they got engaged, the couple had to move their wedding date up and squeeze eight months of planning into three! Cayanne wanted to go with him, but didn’t want to delay the wedding even longer so they decided to get married sooner.

Wedding advice:

Baby clock:

Biggest future splurge:

The couple definitely wants children, but not for another four to five years.

A nice big SUV, says Cayanne, for all of the children they are planning to have.

Best thing about being married: Cayanne jokes Matt can never get away from her. In all reality though, the couple says the best thing about being married is falling asleep and waking up next to each other.

Biggest challenge about being married: The couple says the hardest thing is adjusting to living with someone who was raised very differently from you.

Biggest worry as a couple:

Simple:The only opinion that matters in the end is the bride’s and the groom’s!

The couple worries that when the time comes to start a family, Cayanne won’t be able to stay home with them.

Honeymoon:

Decorating style:

Because the couple moved to St. Louis right after the wedding, they were unable to go on a honeymoon right away. For their one-year anniversary, however, they were able to take a relaxing vacation/honeymoon to the beautiful Riviera Maya in Mexico.

New Traditional.The couple enjoys many neutral pieces that can be used over and over while their pillows and accessories add a pop of color.They try to make their home warm and inviting.

| WEDDINGS NORTH 18 page 18 Weddings North • Fall 2011

2013

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Still in Brainerd. Both of their families are from the area so it’s important that they stay here. Still married to each other (of course) with a few kids and happy in their home that they recently purchased.

The couple looks forward to making many memories in their new home.

An interesting fact about Matt and Cayanne: There is exactly 14 inches height difference between them, and the couple has moved four times since they’ve been married. Needless to say, this couple has had a busy first year of marriage, but they’re loving every minute of it!

Want to be featured as our next Real Couple? Email nikki.lyter@brainerddispatch.com and tell us your story!

Pin

My Wedding!

PhoToGRaPhy By Ryan WiLCoX You Look Nice Today Photography www.youlooknicetodayphotography.com page 19Weddings | WeDDINgS NORTH North • Fall 2011 201319

Your wedding photos are unique and stylish, and they deserve to be seen the world over. With Facebook and Pinterest, your favorite wedding blogs and even national magazines, there have never been more options for putting the spotlight on all the details that went into making your special day By anna saChse CTW Features Just a few years ago, when the wedding was over you were left with a book of photos, a disc of digital images and a lot of lovely memories.

That’s nothing to complain about, of course, but these days, thanks to your social networks,

| WeDDINgS NORTH 20 page 20 Weddings North • Fall 2011

countless wedding blogs and plentiful national and local bridal publications (like the one I edit, Portland Bride & Groom), you can showcase your special day to an audience well beyond your guest list.

Whether you’d prefer to keep your wedding story – the beauty, the blunders and all your hard work! – all in the

2013

friends and family, or share it to the world, read on for a crash course in how to do it right.

Social Media If you simply want to show off your favorite pictures and, most importantly, wax poetic about the wedding details you found most interesting in your

own voice, then social-media platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Tumblr and Twitter are an easy and efficient way to go. Just make sure you check in with your photographer first and get permission to do so, warns Sharon Naylor, author of more than 30 wedding books, including “The Bride’s Guide to Freebies:

Enhancing Your Wedding Without Selling Out” (Lyons Press, 2012).Yes, you hired your photographer to take pictures at your event, but depending on the photo package you purchase, the photographer may still own the copyright. “Different photographers have different rules, and you don’t want to get in legal trouble or receive angry requests to remove your posts,” Naylor says.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there are nasty people out there who take delight in posting insults or criticism on public websites, Naylor notes. Your choices are to ignore any less-than-glowing reviews, or, if possible, consider making your account or album private so that only select people can take a peek. This also prevents the etiquette mistake of jamming up your contacts’ feeds with tons of individually posted photos, Naylor says. Public or private, be considerate

– some of your guests may prefer their image not be shared with anyone, especially if they were caught in an unflattering moment.

The Marketplace Looking to showcase your wedding in a prettier package?

You can submit to the “real weddings” sections in your local bridal magazine, national publications like Brides magazine or Martha Stewart Weddings or numerous wedding style blogs like Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, 100 Layer Cake, Snippet & Ink and more. An issue of the magazine or PDF file of the post makes a lovely keepsake, and let’s face it – it feels good to know other people thought your wedding was as special as you did.

That said, not every wedding can be chosen. The parties that pique my interest for Portland Bride & Groom feel fresh and

unique, they’re full of inspiration and been-there-done-that wisdom for future brides and grooms, they’re jam-packed with great local-vendor leads for brides-to-be currently planning their own special day, and they include detail shots that highlight things like your incredible dessert table, hip paper goods, creative tabletop and awesome venue – you know, the same reasons engaged-you loved real-

wedding stories, too.

Most outlets will provide instructions for the kinds of wedding submissions they want, but one of the most helpful articles I’ve seen was an

page 21Weddings | WeDDINgS NORTH North • Fall 2011 201321

and simple photographs of the gown, makeup, jewelry and bridesmaids, and transition into the first look, ceremony, reception and, to bring the story to a close, the last kiss. “Within that story, we love to see details that are steal-worthy, that are photographed in a simple, editorial way and that scream chic,” Larson says. “We want photojournalistic images to get a sense of the real vibe of the day, alongside clean, thoughtful shots of all those little touches that the bride put so much love into.”

Ryan Wilcox, who operates You Look Nice Today Photography in Portland, Ore., has shot weddings that have been featured in more than a half-dozen blogs and magazines. He says three things stick out about the publish-worthy weddings he’s photographed: unique personal touches in the details, gorgeous settings that match the tone of the wedding, and, finally, the moments.

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“This is fairly hard to plan but with the right photographer knowing where to be when a photo can go from a snapshot to telling a complete story, which is something the editors look for,” Wilcox says. “There needs to be a handful of those moments included when submitting a wedding.”

Again, you must get approval from your photographer before you submit images, and you want to be considerate of your guests.

But there’s also submission etiquette. Most outlets want exclusivity, so it’s polite to only submit to one at a time. If you happen to get a “pass,” try to understand that it’s in no way a judgment on the fabulousness of your big day. “There are so many things that go into a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer for publication,” Larson says. “It could be that

we have a backlog of California rustic-elegant weddings, that we recently featured a wedding very similar, or that the design is fabulous but the photographs won’t look great on our blog.”

You can always submit to another publication. In the meantime, flip through the pages of your photo album again, because, after all,YOU are the audience that matters most. © CTW Features

Kelsey Goodwin Photography

SMP Backstage post called “Getting Your Wedding Out of the Slush Pile,” by Abby Larson, founder of the Style Me Pretty blog and author of “Style Me Pretty Weddings: Inspiration and Ideas for an Unforgettable Celebration” (Clarkson Potter, 2012). It’s a must-read when you consider the fact that Style Me Pretty gets around 600 submissions per week.“That’s a lot of pretty to go through!” Larson says.“If we could find one word that really encompasses what we look for in a submission, it would be ‘refinement.’ Not in the traditional sense of the word, though. What we mean is a cohesive style and edited, clean photography... We love to feature wedding styles of all shapes and sizes, but a perfect submission is one that tells a story through simple, well-executed photographs and details.”

That story that Larson is looking for can start with the sweet “getting ready” shots

Insta-Glam

Smartphone apps like Instagram add instant charm and radiance to photos with chic filters and effects – just like the tricks photographers employ to make wedding photos pop

Kelsey Goodwin Photography

By Taniesha Robinson CTW Features On their wedding day, Jonathan Buckley and his wife, Brandi, stood on the grand staircase of San Francisco City Hall, where Brandi’s grandparents married nearly 70 years before. Everything about their day paid homage to the town they would together call home: Brandi’s dress, the limo service and even the technology they’d use to capture the day in photo. They gazed into each other’s eyes, smiling.Their

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The vintage look at this point is like pearls. It’s timeless.

— Kelsey Goodwin, photographer Thomas used the Amaro and Rise Instagram filters for most of the Buckleys’ images, which created a warm, vintage look. Amaro adds a bluetoned, aged appearance while Rise softens images with a g o l d e n glow.Thomas’ eye homed in on the couple’s chemistry, and the hall’s lighting and architecture to produce her enchanting photos.

Lighting, composition and the moment of action are the key elements of any wedding photograph with or without effects, says British Colombia-based photographer Kelsey Goodwin. “If you have those three things then you can do whatever filter you want,” Goodwin says.“Once in a while, a mediocre image can be pushed into greatness with a little bit of editing help, but it’s a fine line.”

Stunning effects and filters, however, are not limited to pics snapped via a smartphone apps. Here, some of

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For Jonathan and Brandi Buckley’s wedding at San Francisco’s City Hall, Kim Thomas photographed the wedding using an iPhone 4S , then edited the photos and added effects via the Instagram iPhone app.

Kim A. Thomas Photography

photographer stood away, aimed and shot the image – with an iPhone 4S. More than 500 photos of the Buckleys were taken that day solely with an iPhone.

Later, the Buckleys’ photographer, Kim Thomas, added effects mostly with Instagram filters and delivered more than 100 images to the couple.

“The very next evening we had a mini reception of 40 to 50 people, and we had iPads set up in picture-frame mode around the room with all the photographs,” Buckley says.

Soon afterward, hundreds in their social network would browse through the photos online.

Digital and mobile photography has enabled what is perhaps the biggest trend in photography today – sharing images shortly after they’re taken. Now, the immediacy has transferred to the editing process.“Being able to use the Instagram filter is really, really quick,” Thomas says. “You don’t have to spend hours and hours trying to get the right look for your photo.”

Not only are the effects from smartphone camera applications such as Instagram, well, instant, they create striking, appealing photographs. “It brings back an element of film because the quality is not as great,”Thomas says.

the most stylish photography trends that photographers can employ to their photos captured via their trusty dSLR camera.

Textured photography has a design overlay that gives a perceived surface quality to the image. For example, a layer could add a brushstroke effect to different areas in the picture giving the overall image the feel of a painting.

“If the texture overlay is laid on too thick, it can lend itself as a distraction to the actual image,” Goodwin wrote in a guest blog for TheWedLoft.“Though if done correctly, it can be a very pleasing effect,” she adds. Textures were very popular in the ’90s but are now used less often.

Selective Desaturation A photo with selective desaturation leaves on part of an image in color while the rest is pared down to black and white. This is one of those trends that have stood the test of time. It first appeared in the ’80s but seems to have timeless character.

Kelsey Goodwin Photography

Textured Photos

High-dynamic range photos, above, create awesome definition and enhance the mood of a photo. City traffic takes on an alluring life form with long-exposure photos, below.

High Dynamic Range HDR has been around for more than a century. “It was originally designed to bring value in lights and darks to create a balanced image in terms of exposure, but if you overdo it, it looks like a painting or a cartoon,” Goodwin says. Picture a comic book to get a sense of what the extremes of this effect can do. Yet, even toneddown usage creates awesome definition and heightens the intensity and mood of an image.

This technique requires a night or dark setting and moving light. Stationary elements are sharply captured while moving light blurs during the long exposure time. It has been popularly used to shoot traffic at night, making city landscapes look like a carnival has come to town.

Kelsey Goodwin Photography

Kim A. Thomas Photography

Long-Exposure Photo

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Kelsey Goodwin Photography

Light Leak and Lens Flare When film or a camera sensor is exposed to extra light, red or yellow glares can fill the image. “Back in the day it was considered poor photography skills,” Goodwin says. Likewise, lens flare from unplanned reflections or impurities in the lens was considered an amateur mistake. Today photographers are clamoring to get these washed out, hazy effects in their photos. Both can make images look more vibrant, retro or just plain creative.

Holga The Holga is a medium format camera created in the 1980s that harnesses the creative power of light leaks, blurring, and other distortions for a faded, vintage look.

“The vintage look at this point is like pearls,” Goodwin says. “It’s timeless.” © CTW Features

Photos shot with light leak and lens flare have a much-desired washed-out or hazy effect.

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kelsey goodwin Photography

Town or Country?

1 wedding, 2 options. A big city celebration has modern conveniences, while a country setting offers its own ‘rustic chic’ charm. Here’s how to make your choice

By anna saChse CTW Features Sure, the city where you live (or the one where you grew up) would make a deeply personal backdrop for your big day. But perhaps you’ve always pined for a more pastoral celebration. Urban fêtes and country soirées both have lots of pros – and they have their party-downer cons.

Here, three wedding planning

experts share insight to help you decide which setting is right for you.

Go to Town At the top of the list for

why an urban wedding should win out? Practicality. First, you have your pick of venues, from traditional hotel ballrooms to modern museums and art galleries to hip converted warehouses, restaurants and

more, all of which are likely practiced at working with big events. Many may even include everything from tables to light-

continued on page 30 page 27 | WeDDINgS NORTH 2013

Weddings North Directory • 2013

Bachelor/Bachelorette Risky Business 326 Washington Street Brainerd, MN 218-829-9361 www.riskybusinessmn.com

Cakes

Cold Stone Creamery 15175 Edgewood Drive Baxter, MN 218-824-0016

Catering

Prairie Bay Grill and Catering 15115 Edgewood Drive, Baxter 218-824-6444 www.prairiebay.com

Child Care

Stepping Stones Childcare Learning Center Brainerd/Baxter 218-270-3100 Aitkin 218-927-4767 www.steppingstonesmn.com

Entertainment

Complete Music Video Photo 218-825-7244 www.brainerdlakesdj.com

Expos

Brainerd Wedding Association www.brainerdweddingassociation.com

Fitness

Fitquest Athletic Club Hwy 371 N. Brainerd, MN 218-829-6453 fitquestathleticclub.com

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Floral

Lily Grass Floral Studio 320-293-4025 lilygrassfloral@gmail.com www.lilygrassfloral.com VIP Weddings/Ivy Chapel 712 Laurel Street Downtown Brainerd, MN 218-829-1771 800-491-1770

Jewelry

Riddles Jewelry Westgate Mall, Baxter, MN 218-828-1254 www.riddlesjewelry.com

Photographers

Christina Johnson Photography Little Falls, MN 320-630-1361 www.christinajohnsonphotography.com Kelli Engstrom Photography PO Box 83 Crosslake, MN 218-692-4626 www.kelliengstrom.com

Receptions/Banquets/ Rehearsals

Breezy Point Resort Breezy Point, MN 1-800-432-3777 218-562-7141 www.breezypointresort.com Cragun’s Resort on Gull 800-CRAGUNS (800-272-4867) ext. 8857 www.craguns.com/160 Falls Ballroom 15871 East Hwy 27 Little Falls, MN 320-632-9992 www.fallsballroom.com

Receptions/Banquets/ Rehearsals (cont.)

Northland Arboretum 14250 Conservation Drive Brainerd, MN 218-829-8770 www.northlandarb.com

Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lakes 6967 Lake Forest Road Baxter, MN 877-687-5634 www.lodgehotelsbrainerd.com Timbermist 19624 Co. Rd. 3 Brainerd, MN 218-829-7507 www.timbermistmn.com

Rental/Supplies

O’Design 218-340-6172 www.odesignmn.com Party Time Rental Hwy 317 N Brainerd, MN 218-829-6300 www.brainerdparty.com Party World Edgewood Drive Baxter, MN 218-828-2127 www.partyworldbrainerd.com Rohlfing 293 Wright Street Brainerd, MN 218-829-0303

Salon/Spa/Cosmetic

Midsota Plastic Surgeons 3701 12th Street N St. Cloud, MN 320-253-7257 1-888-MIDSOTA www.midsota.com

Weddings North Directory • 2013

Salon/Spa/Cosmetic (cont.)

Salon Seven Hwy 371. N Brainerd, MN (in the Fitquest building) 218-454-4547

Transportation

Pearl Limousine 320-251-1101 www.pearl-limo.com Ultimate Limo & Party Bus 326 Washington Street Brainerd, MN 218-829-9361 www.ultimatelimomn.com

Wedding/Party Planning Central MN Wedding Professionals www.perfectmnwedding.com

Minnesota’s Most Trusted Wedding Professionals Call 218-855-5824 to place your engagement/wedding announcement in the Brainerd Dispatch and on upnorthweddings.com

UNVEILING • Brainerd’s Premier Wedding Event January 12, 2013 • 11am - 3pm • Northland Arboretum page 29 | WEDDINGS NORTH 2013

ing and the sound system with their venue fee or catering minimum.

Similarly, getting married in town enables access to numerous qualified vendors, allowing you to pick the caterer, florist, baker or DJs that best suit your needs, personality and budget, says Constance Curtis of Southern California-based Constance Curtis Events.There are no travel fees, delivery charges will be minimal if any, and competition may open the door to special packages, discounts or deals. Plus, it’s easy to meet with your vendors pre-wedding on a lunch break or after work if you need to hammer out centerpieces or sample the menu.

In addition, metropolitan weddings are über-convenient for guests, notes Curtis.Those who live close by don’t have to pay for lodging and may be able to use public transportation to avoid driving after a night of revelry. Out-of-towners can simply book a room upstairs from or within walking distance of your bash.

As for a city affair’s downsides, traffic takes the cake.

Anja Winikka, the site director for TheKnot.com, advises checking ahead of time to see if there’s preplanned subway or train work and informing

guests on your wedding website.You’ll also want to mention if any large events (festivals, football games, races) may impede public transport or clog the roads for drivers.

And be sure to note parking garages near the venue, Winikka adds, as you don’t want to walk down the aisle with halfempty rows because half your guests are driving around in circles looking for a spot.

More things to make you think twice: If you have chosen a major city, expect to pay a premium for all your vendors, and know that those venue fees and minimums don’t come cheap. Traditional event spaces can feel generic and their included linens, chairs, dishes, etc. can be boring or beat up, thus you may end up shelling out a pretty penny for alternative rentals and décor.

Finally, you aren’t alone. if any part of your wedding is outside, you’ll likely get some gawkers,Winikka says.

Country Strong Whether you’ve got your heart set on saying your I do’s amid a field of flowers, at a vineyard or in a barn, a key advantage of having a country wedding is that there’s already gorgeous scenery to serve

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as the backdrop, says Maggie Lord, founder of RusticWeddingChic.com and author of “Rustic Wedding Chic” (Gibbs Smith, 2012). Although Lord notes that the often big, open spaces make it easy for you to create whatever atmosphere you want: elegantly Old-World, woodsy and sweet, a festive ranch hoedown, or a glamorous garden party with bocce ball and croquet.These settings typically have a ton of natural character, minimizing the need for extra embellishment. If there’s no onsite catering, you also can save money by bringing in your own alcohol, which is a great way to showcase your favorite local wineries, breweries and distilleries. And you’ll likely having the ceremony and reception in the same place, which means you won’t have to pay for two venues or transportation between sites.

If the location is too far away from town for guests to make it a day trip, another bonus is that you can make a weekend out of it, says Curtis. You’ll have more opportunity to spend time with all your loved ones, especially if you plan group activities like wine tours, hay rides or hikes.

But like any wedding, country destinations also have their concerns. Unless your loca-

tion is an established wedding venue, everything from the table and chair rentals to creating a cooking space for the catering team to furnishing generators, lighting and portable bathrooms might be your responsibility, warns Lord, not to mention all the cleanup afterward. For this reason, even if you’re having a very informal event, Lord strongly advises hiring a wedding planner or dayof coordinator who can handle all the details, plan for contingencies and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Keep in mind that you’ll also have less local vendors to choose from, or will have to pay more for city-based vendors to travel or make deliveries to your locale, says Curtis.

If it’s very remote, you’ll want to make sure there’s enough lodging for friends and family nearby, or organize transportation to get guests safely to and from town in a timely manner.

And don’t forget about unpredictable weather, adds Winikka.

In most cases, some element of the event will be outdoors, so definitely have a Plan B for rain, excessive wind or extremely hot weather. © CTW Features

Celebrating 10 years

publishing

2.12.13

Her voice is Heard Her Voice is Strong Her Voice is embraced

And now...

Her Voice Magazine is celebrating it’s 10 Year Anniversary in 2013!

It will be an issue that you won’t want to miss and you wont want to miss out on being a part of!

Contact your Media Consultant for advertising opportunities. 218.829.4705

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